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Love's Labour's Lost

Page 20

by William Shakespeare

Picture research by Helen Robson and Jan Sewell. Grateful acknowledgment is made to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for assistance with picture research (special thanks to Helen Hargest) and reproduction fees.

  Images of RSC productions are supplied by the Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive, Stratford-upon-Avon. This library, maintained by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, holds the most important collection of Shakespeare material in the UK, including the Royal Shakespeare Company’s official archives. It is open to the public free of charge.

  For more information see www.shakespeare.org.uk.

  1. Design for a knot garden, private collection © Bardbiz Limited

  2. Directed by Peter Brook (1946). Angus McBean © Royal Shakespeare Company

  3. Old Vic (1949). © John Vickers Theatre Collection

  4. Directed by Michael Kahn (2006). Malcolm Davies © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

  5. Directed by Barry Kyle (1984). © Stephen Macmillan

  6. Directed by Ian Judge (1993). Malcolm Davies © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

  7. Directed by John Barton (1965). Tom Holte © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

  8. Directed by Terry Hands (1990). Joe Cocks Studio Collection © Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

  9. Reconstructed Elizabethan playhouse © Charcoalblue

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  1.1 Location: Navarre, in the king’s park. This is the location for the entire play Ferdinand in fact, the King of Navarre at the time of the play’s composition was Henri Berowne, Longaville the Duc de Berowne and the Duc de Longueville both fought for King Henri Dumaine perhaps based on Charles de Lorraine, Duc de Mayenne and initially King Henri’s opponent

  1 fame renown

  2 registered recorded

  2 brazen brass-plated, enduring (plays on sense of “shameless”)

  3 grace honor

  3 disgrace disfigurement/shame

  4 spite in spite

  4 cormorant i.e. ravenous (literally, a greedy seabird)

  5 breath i.e. life/speech

  6 bate abate, blunt

  6 his i.e. time’s

  6 keen sharp/eager

  9 affections passions

  11 late recent

  11 in force i.e. be binding

  12 Navarre the place/the king

  13 academe institution of learning (originally Plato’s academy near Athens)

  14 Still … in calmly, constantly studying contemplative in meditating on

  14 living art the art of living/vitality within scholarship

  16 term period of time

  17 keep observe

  18 schedule document/list

  19 passed pledged

  19 subscribe sign

  20 hand sword/handwriting

  21 branch clause

  22 armed prepared (plays on sense of “carrying weapons”)

  23 deep solemn

  23 it subscription (to the oath)

  25 pine starve, languish

  26 pates heads (i.e. wits)

  26 dainty bits choice morsels of food

  28 mortified dead to worldly pleasures

  29 grosser coarser, earthier

  30 gross whole/coarse

  30 baser slaves those subject to inferior pleasures

  32 in according to the tenets of/by the study of

  33 say … over repeat their vows

  36 observances requirements

  37 As such as

  38 enrollèd written

  43 wink close one’s eyes/sleep

  44 wont accustomed

  44 think no harm i.e. sleep

  49 pass away from renounce

  50 an if if

  52 space duration

  54 By … nay a common oath

  55 end aim

  57 common sense ordinary understanding

  58 recompense reward

  59 Come on quibbles on common

  65 too hard-a-keeping oath an oath too hard to keep

  66 troth faith

  70 stops impediments

  70 quite completely

  71 train entice

  71 vain foolish, trifling, self-gratifying

  73 pain effort, suffering, labor

  73 purchased acquired

  73 inherit bring about more

  74 As for example

  75 the while in the meantime

  76 falsely treacherously

  76 his look its sight

  77 Light i.e. eyes, thought to produce the beams of light by which they saw

  77 light intellectual enlightenment

  77 light … beguile the eyes are cheated out of enlightenment (by excessive study)

  78 ere before

  78 darkness intellectual obscurity

  80 Study me let me learn

  81 fairer more beautiful (plays on sense of “lighter”)

  82 dazzling blinding (my eyes)

  82 that eye i.e. of the fairer woman

  82 heed focus of attention/guardian

  85 saucy insolent

  86 Small little

  87 Save except

  87 base lowly, secondhand

  88 godfathers … lights astronomers who name the stars, as godparents name children at baptism

  90 profit of benefit from

  90 shining i.e. starlit

  91 wot know

  91 they the stars/the walkers

  92 Too … fame an excess of knowledge brings only a vainglorious reputation

  93 every godfather i.e. any ordinary person

  95 Proceeded argued (plays on sense of “taking a university degree”)


  95 proceeding intellectual advancement

  96 weeds pulls up

  96 lets … weeding allows the weeds to flourish

  97 green geese innocent simpletons/geese fed on grass

  99 Fit in his in a manner appropriate to its

  101 reason

  100 In reason nothing i.e. it doesn’t follow logically

  101 rhyme i.e. the opposite of

  102 envious malicious

  102 sneaping biting/nipping (rhyme puns on “rime”—i.e. frost)

  103 first-born infants youngest plants

  104 proud glorious/arrogant

  106 abortive premature, unnatural

  108 new-fangled shows newly created, elaborate displays (of flowers)

  109 like of I delight in

  109 in season i.e. at its proper time

  110 too late i.e. in life

  111 climb … gate i.e. pointless

  112 sit you out don’t take part

  114 barbarism uncivilized ignorance

  117 bide endure

  117 three years’ day day of three years

  126 Marry by the Virgin Mary

  128 hence away from here

  128 dread dreadful/frightening

  129 gentility civilized behavior

  133 article clause

  134 in embassy as an ambassador

  136 complete perfect

  137 Aquitaine area of southwest France

  140 vainly pointlessly

  142 overshot wide of the mark (i.e. mistaken)

  143 would wants

  146 towns … lost i.e. a town that is burnt down as part of a military campaign is no gain at all

  147 force necessity

  148 lie lodge

  148 on mere out of absolute

  149 forsworn perjured, oath breakers

  151 affects passions, desires

  152 might personal strength

  152 grace divine favor

  153 word phrase

  155 at large as a whole

  157 in attainder accused/convicted

  158 Suggestions … me I am as susceptible to temptation as any man

  160 the … oath the last one to swear, but the one who will keep his word the longest/the least likely to keep my oath the longest

  161 quick lively

  162 haunted With frequented by

  164 in … planted involved in whatever is fashionable

  165 mint creative source/wealth (literally, place where money is coined)

  168 compliments accomplishments, courtesy

  169 mutiny discord

  170 child of fancy flamboyant, fanciful creature

  170 hight is called

  171 For interim as an interval

  172 high-born noble/lofty

  173 tawny browned (by sun)

  173 debate strife

  174 delight take pleasure

  176 for my minstrelsy as my minstrel (i.e. musician, entertainer)

  177 wight person

  179 Costard literally “large apple”; slang for “head”

  179 he i.e. Armado

  179 swain low-ranking man/rustic

  179 sport entertainment

  181 duke’s i.e. king’s

  183 reprehend malapropism for “represent”

  184 tharborough thirdborough (i.e. parish constable)

  187 commends you commends himself to you (i.e. greets you respectfully)

  188 abroad at large

  189 contempts malapropism for “contents”

  189 touching concerning

  190 magnificent ostentatious/splendid (joking allusion to the 1588 Spanish Armada, often referred to as “magnificent”)

  191 How … matter however debased the content

  191 high lofty

  193 high hope great expectation

  193 low heaven i.e. small blessing

  195 forbear refrain from

  198 be it let it be

  198 style puns on “stile” to climb

  200 to about

  201 manner nature, way it is expressed

  201 taken … manner caught in the act/with the stolen goods

  203 In … following a commonly used legal phrase

  203 form bench

  203 those three i.e. words (manner, form, following; punned on in the ensuing explanation)

  205 park enclosed land used for hunting

  207 manner custom, nature

  210 correction punishment

  210 God … right a formal prayer said before trial by combat

  214 simplicity stupidity/simple nature

  216 welkin’s heavens’

  216 vicegerent deputy

  217 dominator ruler

  218 fostering supporting

  222 but so merely so-so, not saying much

  224 peace be extended to

  224 Be i.e.

  226 Of … secrets Costard again extends the meaning of the king’s words

  227 sable-coloured black

  228 commend commit

  228 black oppressing humour i.e. melancholy

  228 humour mood (one of the four bodily “humours” that governed the disposition)

  229 physic medicine

  229 as I am on my word as

  234 ycleped called

  236 obscene repulsive

  236 preposterous improper, perverse

  237 snow-white pen i.e. goose quill

  237 ebon-coloured black

  240 curious-knotted with intricately designed flower beds

  241 low-spirited base

  241 minnow … mirth laughable, insignificant object

  243 unlettered illiterate

  245 vassal wretch

  249 Sorted associated

  249 consorted accompanied

  250 continent canon law enforcing (especially sexual) restraint

  251 passion grieve

  251 wherewith with what

  255 pricks spurs (may pun on sense of “penis”)

  256 meed reward

  257 carriage behavior

  258 estimation reputation

  259 an’t if it

  260 weaker vessel i.e. woman

  262 keep retain (may play on sense of “keep as a mistress”)

  262 least … notice slightest notification

  263 trial probably plays on sense of “sexual test”

  266 looked for expected

  268 for i.e. example of

  268 sirrah sir (used to an inferior)

  270 confess admit to having been involved with

  273 marking of paying attention to

  280 so varied expressed equivocally

  283 maid i.e. use of the word

  283 maid serve your turn get you out of trouble (Costard plays on the sense of “gratify me sexually”)

  287 pray plays on sense of “have sex”

  287 mutton and porridge mutton soup (mutton plays on the sense of “prostitute” and porridge on the sense of “sex/genitalia”)

  290 delivered o’er handed over

  293 lay wager

  293 goodman title for someone below the rank of gentleman

  294 idle worthless (matter for)

  296 true honest, chaste, good

  298 prosperity malapropism for “adversity”

  298 Affliction Costard means “prosperity”

  299 sit down i.e. be patient

  1.2 Moth winged insect (puns on the similarly pronounced “mote”—i.e. dust speck; possible pun on mot, the French for “word”)

  1 sign is it is it a sign of

  5 imp sapling/child

  7 part distinguish between

  8 tender youthful, inexperienced

  8 juvenal youth (plays on the name of the Roman satirist Juvenal)

  9 familiar easily comprehended

  9 working operation (of the emotions)

  13 congruent epitheton fitting epithet

  14 appertaining relating

  14 nominate name

  16 appertinent appropriate

  2
1 Pretty neat, ingenious, fine-looking

  21 pretty, because little proverbial

  23 quick quick-witted

  25 condign well-deserved

  28 quick speedy

  29 heat’st my blood make me angry

  32 crossed contradicted

  33 mere absolute

  33 crosses coins (sometimes stamped with a cross)

  35 duke i.e. the king

  38 told counted

  39 ill not good

  39 reckoning calculation

  39 tapster barman, tavern keeper

  40 gamester gambler/merry person/lewd person

  42 complete accomplished

  44 deuce-ace a (poor) throw of two and one in dice

  46 vulgar common people

  48 piece masterpiece/example

  51 dancing horse probably refers to Morocco, a trained horse performing in 1590s London that could beat out numbers with its hoof

  52 figure figure of speech/numeral

  53 cipher zero

  54 base unbefitting (sense then shifts to “lowborn”)

  56 humour of affection disposition to love

  57 reprobate corrupt

  59 new-devised curtsy newly invented (fashionable) bow

  59 think scorn disdain

  60 outswear overcome by swearing/swear to do without

  60 Cupid Roman god of love

  62 Hercules mythological Greek hero

  65 carriage demeanor/bearing

  66 Samson famously strong biblical character

  66 carriage plays on the sense of “carrying ability”

  67 he … porter Samson carried off the gates of Gaza (Judges 16:3)

  69 well-knit well-constructed

  70 rapier long, thin sword

  74 complexion disposition/skin color

  75 Of … four refers to the four humors (blood, phlegm, choler, and melancholy) thought to determine temperament

  78 sea-water green refers to greensickness, an anemic condition affecting young women

  81 Green i.e. because associated with spring and youthfulness

  83 affected loved

  83 wit intelligence

  84 green immature

  86 maculate spotted, polluted

  87 colours plays on sense of “pretexts”

  88 Define explain

  91 pathetical moving

  92 she … of her complexion is (made puns on “maid” as well as possibly suggesting cosmetic artifice)

  97 this i.e. her complexion

  98 still always

  99 native naturally

  99 owe own

  100, 101 A … red i.e. a warning against real or cosmetic red and white complexions; plays on the familiar opposition between rhyme and reason

  102 ballad … Beggar probably that relating the tale of King Cophetua, who fell in love with a beggar maid

  105 ages since generations ago

  106 serve be acceptable

  108 example justify/provide an example of

 

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